[tweetmeme source=”leanisgood” service=”ow.ly” only_single=false]I recently read a plant newsletter that list 22 keys to forklift safety. Twenty-two. Many of these are pretty intuitive and are pretty easy to remember if not somewhat ‘natural’ to someone who is used to operating any motor vehicle. Some forklift operators will probably read this list of rules and integrate a couple of these keys into their behaviors – they will learn something they will retain on an intuitive level. The bigger question isn’t really about forklift safety though. The bigger question goes to the idea of 22 rules. Continue reading →

What first caught my eye about this book was its subtitle, Solving Problems and Selling Ideas [tweetmeme source="leanisgood" service="ow.ly"]with Pictures. Dan Roam believes that almost all problems can be solved, communicated, and solutions sold through a process of seeing and drawing picture. I thought I’d read the book because these things makes sense to me from a lean standpoint (genchi gembutsu, vsm, and A3 process).

I wrapped up a week in a sister plant helping a great group of people improve their PM compliance. I’m not kidding, this was a great group. They were scope creepers so I had to herd cats a little bit now and then, but that’s a good problem. This team was strate up wicked – biased toward action. Thanks Robert, Kim, Ben, Scott, Paul, RJ, Mike, Mike, and Mike. I had a great time. I really didn’t want to be a pain in the a#s guys, but…. Inside joke.

Anyway, we report out, I go to the airport, check my bag (singular – for $20!), and head for gate A34 anxious to clear security, find a cold Fat Tire, and reflect on Continue reading →

Last week Bryan posted about a poka yoke (error proofing) that he found when he bought a kitchen table (here.) Today I received a piece of office furniture and was frustrated when I looked at the instructions (I read instructions when on company time – I only follow my y chromosome driven instinct to disregard instruction until after I have screwed something up on my time.) The instructions showed that the back of the chair should be attached to the seat of the chair with a socket head cap screw, a flat washer, and a lock washer. What was not clear was what went where? Continue reading →